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The San Francisco Symphony’s opening galas are always special occasions, but Wednesday, when the orchestra marks its 100th year, it will be, as Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas puts it, “an extraordinary thing, this moment in time.”

A century in the life of a city that’s only 164 years old itself is worth noting, but the central role of the orchestra in San Francisco’s cultural life makes it more than mere formality.

Click the picture for a shot of the symphony's past. Also, go here for a gallery of glamorous gowns to wear to opening night.

Expecting a centennial-season audience of up to a half a million concert-goers, the symphony — with a $63 million budget and orchestral and choral forces of 250 — is a major artistic, educational and economic power in The City, which it represents on national and global tours. Major contributors to the centennial season include Chevron, Wells Fargo and Bank of America.

“When we first thought about ways to commemorate the San Francisco Symphony’s centennial, we knew we wanted to celebrate at home with our audiences. We wanted to bring great artists and ensembles to San Francisco to be a part of our musical family. And we wanted to create a season that focused on the tremendous virtuosity of our orchestra and rejoice in the pioneering spirit that has always been a part of our tradition,” MTT said.

Wednesday’s gala features two standout soloists in romantic masterpieces: Lang Lang, in the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1, and Itzhak Perlman, in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. A nod to American music will be celebrated in Copland’s “Billy the Kid” ballet suite, and individual instruments will have a chance to shine in Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.”

The gala is a fundraiser, with ticket prices to match, but on the following day, the orchestra is promoting its centennial by offering The City a free concert.

Starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Civic Center, the public is invited to a performance of the Liszt concerto with Lang Lang, and the Britten “Guide to the Orchestra.” Food trucks will have lunch for sale, and free birthday treats will be offered by La Boulange Café & Bakery and Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shops.

The opening concert will be filmed for a later airing on PBS’ “Great Performances.”

MTT showcases music, artists

San Francisco Symphony’s 10-month-long centennial season combines great music and famous artists, making for an extended celebration.

Six of the country’s other old and renowned orchestras — from New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Chicago — are joining the party in Davies Hall during the season, each giving a pair of concerts in separate works they have commissioned.

Michael Tilson Thomas has been involved in collaborations with the other orchestras. The composers include San Francisco Symphony veteran John Adams, Thomas Ades, Mason Bates, Sofia Gulbaidulina and Meredith Monk.

In his 17th season at the head of the orchestra, MTT is continuing his advocacy of contemporary, 20th-century and American music. He has scheduled significant San Francisco premieres including violin concertos by György Ligeti and Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14, which will complete symphony performances of all the Russian composer’s symphonies.

The much-acclaimed “American Mavericks” program returns, both in Davies Hall, and on tour to New York, Ann Arbor and Chicago.

Back in 2000, when “Mavericks” first appeared and won rave reviews, the symphony engaged surviving members of the rock band the Grateful Dead in an unprecedented collaboration.

The symphony is also offering semi-staged works, some with film and video projections, such as Debussy’s “The Martyrdom of Saint Sébastian,” the Bartók opera “Duke Bluebeard’s Castle,” Ades’ “Polaris: Voyage for Orchestra,” and, in honor of The City’s past, “Barbary Coast and Beyond.”

Among the score of illustrious guest conductors are former San Francisco Symphony music directors Edo de Waart (1977-1985) and Herbert Blomstedt (1985-1995). — Janos Gereben

Notable concerts

Mahler, Symphony No. 3 in D minor

Michael Tilson Thomas conducts one of Gustav Mahler’s largest and most ambitious symphonies, a work less popular than the composer’s better-known first, second, fourth and eighth symphonies. The program also features mezzo Katarina Karneus, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and San Francisco Girls Chorus. [8 p.m. Sept. 21-22 and Sept. 24; 2 p.m. Sept. 25]

About The Author

Bio:
Janos Gereben is a writer and columnist for SF Classical Voice; he has worked as writer and editor with the NY Herald-Tribune, TIME Inc., UPI, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, San Jose Mercury News, Post Newspaper Group, and wrote documentation for various technology companies.